Diy Home Automation

[opportunity 0]

anyone diy automation for their own home, ie, sensors to open/close curtains, doors etc??

using of PLC to do the automation or other programs?

[tingshen 0]

depending on your complexity, you would end up spending more than getting a commercial product.....

[opportunity 0]

do u mean it's better to engage commerical services rather than diy???

coz i check out a PLC alone cost $888 excluding sensors, motors etc

[tingshen 0]

i believe majority of the cost goes to labour.....if you know how to do it, you get to save some money, but for most people, it's so troublesome and what if you screw it up halfway?

[andywee 0]

i believe majority of the cost goes to labour.....if you know how to do it, you get to save some money, but for most people, it's so troublesome and what if you screw it up halfway?

I have pretty much converted most of my house to what i call as 'ehome'

it's pretty cheap..

most of the parts come from http://www.x10-hk.com

for others, it's http://www.marmitek.com

if you want automation security, it's http://www.visonic.com

so far everything is done DIY. even my windows are automated. they auto close when it rains and it auto close when i select movies for playing in my bedroom's MCE. I extended a rain sensor outside my windows.

the mechanizm to close windows is http://www.easivent.co.uk/window%20actuato...0arm/2/subgroup.

even my maindoor is biometric from http://www.gatemanbiometrics.com/gateman.htm

since HDB dont allow windows of anything, I initially wanted a crank out casement windows but HDB declined. so i DIY retrofit a mechanizm to close/open my windows. even my doors are autoclosed. aircon controlled by vista MCE also.

my bedroom curtain drapes are mechanized also, with motors at the end of the track to pull/push the drapes.

my studyroom blinds are those shutter type, also mechanized.

the application to do all those is from http://www.embeddedautomation.com/

some prefer a more powerful software but not so nice on the interface. http://www.homeseer.com/

I basically have no wall switches in my house. everything is motion sensored. so stuff like the moment i sit down in the hall, the TV and fan comes on. if it's at night, the TV, Fan, and lights comeon.

even the main door is tripped. i get an sms everytime someone walks into my house.

there should be enough information here for those thinking about it.

if you want to read your power consume of the house/room look at http://www.rfxcom.com they have devices that attach to the ELCB to read the power consumption. they even have sensors to read water, and gas consumptions.

everything except windows/doors is around $3000, all in is around $8000.

Edited December 12, 2008 by andywee

[owm 0]

Fantastic links and info! Thanks for sharing. Been planning on doing my own home automation project so these are really helpful.

Any good links to read up on how to integrate the various modules together or how to go about home automation beyond buying the relevant parts?

[andywee 0]

Fantastic links and info! Thanks for sharing. Been planning on doing my own home automation project so these are really helpful.

Any good links to read up on how to integrate the various modules together or how to go about home automation beyond buying the relevant parts?

hmm.. what do you need to know?

the concept is that you dont need to wire any special wires to get them to work together. they use the Neutral wire in your home to transmit the data. basically your N wire is your data wire that the modules use to send/recieve signal.

if you are in the midst of rewiring your house, it's best to wire them correctly. but if your house is already wired, you can always retrofit.

basically what you need is a neutral wire at all wall switches. most wall switches dont have Neutral wires.

also you need to know if your house is a 1 phase or 2/3 phase houses.

1phase meaning all all your N and L goes to a central spot. most HDB are 1phase

2/3phase. are the headache but better. 3phase are like

phase1 for lights and fans,

phase2 for wall AC sockets

phase3 for fridge, aircon and all the heavy power stuff.

the best is 2/3 phase then the heavy power stuff dont generate electrical noise hence creating a very clean envrioment for the system to work.

if the house is 2/3phase type. then all you need to do is put a noise filter at phase3 to create a "black hole" to aborb all the noise. usually the 3phase types exist in US. most of singapore is 1phase. not sure about condo/landed in singapore.

stuff like FL, compact FL, PC and CRT TVs generate noise signal.

anything that is switching power supply type like PC usually sucking/absorbing the signal.

so those stuff would have to put noise filters before you plug them into the wall.

at the ELCB, you can also put filters to prevent electrical noise from entering/leaving/absorbing some noise generated in your house. those are the 30/40a filters.

normal filters are 5a. the marmitek has got a 15a filter.

the modules are quite simple. I DIY the wirings myself. you just need to know which is L/N/E.

blue is usually live, black is usually neutral, yellow/green is almost always earth. but nothing beats better than using a test pen.

ALWAYS OFF AT THE ELCB WHEN WIRING THE MODULES!!!!!!!!!

the modules have like 1,2,N,L

1=connect the wire to your light's LIVE

2=connect the wire to your fan's LIVE

N=connect to the wall's NEUTRAL, Fan's NEUTRAL and Light's NEUTRAL

L=connec to the wall's LIVE.

then you need a switch, if you have lots of lights, you can use SCENE CONTROLLERS to then on the lights/appliance in sequence.

eg, Lights ON, Fan ON, TV ON, Curtains CLOSE

someone asked me to take some pics before.. but such things, only video or see in person to experience it.

singapore used to have a shop at SIMLIMSQ @ 6th floor that specializes in such things. but they closed down already. think they closed in OCT'08. it was called FUTUREHOMES.

Edited December 11, 2008 by andywee

[andywee 0]

here are some sites of the ehome users..

http://www.hekkers.net/domotica/

http://www.bwired.nl/

http://home.wiredhouse.nl/

they use extensive RFX products so they have stuff like rain,wind, solar energy collected, gas, electricity used for current, today, this month, this year, etc

this is the forum IF you need to ask anything about home automation..one of the most extensive forums i have seen

http://www.domoticaforum.eu

Edited December 12, 2008 by andywee

[owm 0]

Wow...thanks for the great links. Will do some reading up and research on HA and hopefully start my own project in the near future.

[owm 0]

The Futurehome website is still up? Futurehome

Pretty extensive range of products available. Will call them tomorrow and see if they still have a shop front.

I will just start with a basic security system first with light automation and scale it up from there in the future. Too much information to handle so got to slowly digest it!

[andywee 0]

The Futurehome website is still up? Futurehome

Pretty extensive range of products available. Will call them tomorrow and see if they still have a shop front.

I will just start with a basic security system first with light automation and scale it up from there in the future. Too much information to handle so got to slowly digest it!

yeah, their site is still up but they have actually close shop already. if you call them the line will say this number is nolonger in used.

Edited December 14, 2008 by andywee

[wuga98 0]

The shop in sls is closed, you are correct. I have bought some stuff from them in the last few months and was informed that they have shifted actually to jackson. Usually i call one of their director, Bobby and request for assisstance. If anyone is interested, PM me for his HP number.

I remember there are some other company in SG also does some level of automation but not to the extend of Home automation in terms of scale and also range of products, do google and seek them out. Hope this helps.

yeah, their site is still up but they have actually close shop already. if you call them the line will say this number is nolonger in used.

bro, you are the man. I love stuff like this but my wife don't . Can see your work or not?. I am interested to see what i can do as a project for my house as well. Thanks.

I have pretty much converted most of my house to what i call as 'ehome'

it's pretty cheap..

most of the parts come from http://www.x10-hk.com

for others, it's http://www.marmitek.com

if you want automation security, it's http://www.visonic.com

so far everything is done DIY. even my windows are automated. they auto close when it rains and it auto close when i select movies for playing in my bedroom's MCE. I extended a rain sensor outside my windows.

the mechanizm to close windows is http://www.easivent.co.uk/window%20actuato...0arm/2/subgroup.

even my maindoor is biometric from http://www.gatemanbiometrics.com/gateman.htm

since HDB dont allow windows of anything, I initially wanted a crank out casement windows but HDB declined. so i DIY retrofit a mechanizm to close/open my windows. even my doors are autoclosed. aircon controlled by vista MCE also.

my bedroom curtain drapes are mechanized also, with motors at the end of the track to pull/push the drapes.

my studyroom blinds are those shutter type, also mechanized.

the application to do all those is from http://www.embeddedautomation.com/

some prefer a more powerful software but not so nice on the interface. http://www.homeseer.com/

I basically have no wall switches in my house. everything is motion sensored. so stuff like the moment i sit down in the hall, the TV and fan comes on. if it's at night, the TV, Fan, and lights comeon.

even the main door is tripped. i get an sms everytime someone walks into my house.

there should be enough information here for those thinking about it.

if you want to read your power consume of the house/room look at http://www.rfxcom.com they have devices that attach to the ELCB to read the power consumption. they even have sensors to read water, and gas consumptions.

everything except windows/doors is around $3000, all in is around $8000.

[andywee 0]

The shop in sls is closed, you are correct. I have bought some stuff from them in the last few months and was informed that they have shifted actually to jackson. Usually i call one of their director, Bobby and request for assisstance. If anyone is interested, PM me for his HP number.

I remember there are some other company in SG also does some level of automation but not to the extend of Home automation in terms of scale and also range of products, do google and seek them out. Hope this helps.

bro, you are the man. I love stuff like this but my wife don't . Can see your work or not?. I am interested to see what i can do as a project for my house as well. Thanks.

how to see? take video? or you want to come over to see?

[owm 0]

Can you PM me Bobby's handphone number? Might have need of it shortly.

I think I found the company you are referring to. Is it this?

It is a bit mind-boggling to start on HA. So much info, choices out in the market!

The shop in sls is closed, you are correct. I have bought some stuff from them in the last few months and was informed that they have shifted actually to jackson. Usually i call one of their director, Bobby and request for assisstance. If anyone is interested, PM me for his HP number.

I remember there are some other company in SG also does some level of automation but not to the extend of Home automation in terms of scale and also range of products, do google and seek them out. Hope this helps.

[andywee 0]

Can you PM me Bobby's handphone number? Might have need of it shortly.

I think I found the company you are referring to. Is it this?

It is a bit mind-boggling to start on HA. So much info, choices out in the market!

www.homeautomation.com.sg doesnt bring in x10 stuff

yeah.. where's bobby's shop now? the last time i met him, he asked me to build ultra low powered HA servers for him. cuz i told him that I managed to build my HA system running only 24ws using very high efficient PSU with intel atom, even lower powered than some laptops. with current technology ( atom server was build 9 months ago). I managed to shrink it to 15ws. LOL even lower power than what a T5 36ws FL tube consume. watts are measured using the AC power meter. and some RFXCOM stuff.

Edited December 15, 2008 by andywee